Global Democratic Backsliding

About this event

Our ongoing World Affairs Council of Charleston partnership continues with Princeton University’s Policy Task Force Director, Laura Thornton, who specializes in elections, hybrid threats, disinformation, democratic resilience, and civic engagement. With more than 30 years’ experience as a practitioner and advocacy expert, Laura has supported civil societies across Central and Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, Black Sea and Eurasia region, Belarus, and Ukraine to bolster democratic resilience through civic education, media literacy, and public awareness campaigns. With former positions at the McCain Institute, the Democracy Hub at the German Marshall Fund, and Stockholm-based International IDEA, Laura will speak to her research in public opinion and the health of democracy around the world. Purchase Tickets HERE! This program is in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Charleston. About Laura Thornton Laura Thornton has spent more than 30 years in the democracy, governance, and security space both as a practitioner and policy and advocacy expert. She lived more than two decades in Asia and the former Soviet Union. Thornton leads initiatives to build communities of best practice, advocate support for frontline democracies through policy outreach, and forge alliances across borders. She serves in numerous global networks as a leader and expert in the democracy community. Thornton served as senior director for global democracy programs at the McCain Institute, where she led election missions, democracy workshops, and the Institute’s Ukraine programming. Prior to joining McCain, Thornton was senior vice president of the Democracy Hub at the German Marshall Fund. Thornton oversaw the Alliance for Securing Democracy, through which GMF tracks, analyzes, and builds strategies to thwart malign internal and external influence operations that target democracies worldwide. She also led GMF’s Transatlantic Trusts, supporting civil society organizations and…

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